Amazon to acquire 49% stake in Kishore Biyani's Future Coupons

India's
health ministry has proposed a ban on the production and import of
electronic cigarettes, documents seen by Reuters showed, potentially
jeopardizing the expansion plans of big firms like Juul Labs and Philip
Morris International. The ministry has proposed that the government
issue an executive order banning the devices in the public interest,
saying it was needed to ensure e-cigarettes don't become an "epidemic"
among children and young adults.

Infosys
co-founder NR Narayana Murthy on Thursday said India has for the first
time in 300 years an economic environment that breeds confidence and
optimism that its poverty can be eliminated. He was addressing the
fourth convocation function of Madan Mohan Malaviya University of
Technology (MMMUT) at Gorakhpur.

American
e-commerce giant Amazon is going to acquire a 49 per cent stake in
Kishore Biyani-led Future Group entity Future Coupons Ltd for an
undisclosed amount. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
The entity owns a 7.3 per cent stake in Future Retail Ltd, the group's
brick-and-mortar retailer. This will give Amazon around 3.58 per cent
indirect stake in Future Retail, which owns Big Bazaar, Nilgiris and
Easyday stores. With over 1,600 stores across the country, Future Retail
is one of the biggest brick-and-mortar businesses in India.

Troubles
seem to be mounting for both P Chidambaram and his son Karti
Chidambaram as investigating agencies try to find links between the
alleged overseas payments and Karti's benami foreign assets. It is
alleged that Karti bought many such properties from the proceeds of the
bribe money he received overseas. In a new revelation, the Enforcement
Directorate (ED) has a copy of an email that shows Karti owns benami
properties in the United Kingdom, reported India Today.

CBI expands probe against P Chidambaram; FDI clearances to other companies also under scanner

The
CBI has expanded the probe against former finance minister P
Chidambaram, bringing under its ambit foreign investment clearances
given to companies other than INX media during his tenure, officials
said Thursday. The CBI suspects that Chidamabaram and his son Karti also
received kickbacks from other companies to facilitate foreign
investment clearances through the FIPB route which necessitates the
former minister's custodial interrogation, they said.

Pakistan
will no longer seek dialogue with India as it has repeatedly rebuffed
peace overtures, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, a charge rejected by
New Delhi which has repeatedly asked Islamabad to take "credible" action
against terror groups to resume the talks. Stepping up his criticism of
India after it revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status early this
month, Khan told The New York Times that he fears the threat of a
military escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours.